Thermoregulation

From UroWiki

What is it?

Thermoregulation is the process by which ectothermic creatures, such as lizards, raise and maintain their body temperature. An ectothermic animal is a cold-blooded animal which gets its energy, and raises its body temperature, by absorbing heat. This is usually performed through lying on a basking spot on a hot rock under direct sunlight.

Most ectothermic creatures are able to flatten themselves out or otherwise orient a broad solar collecting surface towards the sun, in order to maximise their heat intake. Some can also darken in colour so as to absorb more heat when needed.

Importance of thermoregulation

Because thermoregulation is one of the most important health matters for an uromastyx, its dependence on an external source of heat for its well-being also means it is heavily dependent on a well-balanced and effective temperature gradient, without which the lizard will be doomed to either cook and become dehydrated and die, or freeze and not be able to metabolise food and die.

Thermoregulation means the uromastyx needs to be able to roam about its enclosure, in order to find the spot where it is most comfortable in terms of core body temperature. A large enclosure size is very important for these sun-worshippers.